New Guy Moving to Austin

[BlackandBlue]

Stopping by to say hi as this is the first active Texas bike forum I've found, but feel free to recommend others. I don't discriminate.

My wife and I are moving to Austin from Connecticut right after the New Year to experience more that the world has to offer since we've both lived in the Northeast our entire lives. We're ready for a change and with all the great things we've heard and the research we've done, Austin seems like a perfect location to try. She also has a family member out there, so that makes it easier.

Both being riders, I'm REALLY looking forward to the lack of a winter. I ride year round up here if the roads are dry, but I don't particularly enjoy cold weather or snow (though, my wife's a skier). As both a drag racer and a track day enthusiast, I can't wait for year round riding and racing, plus the opportunity to check out new tracks. Please feel free to recommend track day organizations that you like, the tracks you prefer, etc. I'm all ears.

On top of that, both being musicians with educational backgrounds in music, we're thrilled to be heading somewhere with an active music scene. Having no decent music scene here, I should have left CT long ago, but it worked out well since we're now together.

Anyways, I ride a 2007 GSXR 600, bone stock except for my track day tires. I'm the type who enjoys wringing every last ounce of performance out a vehicle and myself before modifying it, hence the stockness. My wife rides an 06 Ninja 250 and also races it at the drag strip. I'm convincing her to do track days with me but she wants to put the money towards upgrading since she's been riding for 6-7 years. Regardless, we just have a blast going to the track or riding around on the street together.

Here's a pic of my 600 (it's far dirtier than it appears in this picture because I beat the **** out of it - not sure how this picture came out so clean lol).

[The Bruce]

Lots of good riding around central Texas.

from the phone

[BlackandBlue]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

Lots of good riding around central Texas.

from the phone

Thanks. Do you race or do track days at all? I see you're near/in Austin.

And where was that picture of your DRZ taken? That looks great.

[whoa]

It sounds like you've looked at our part of Texas carefully. I expect you two will fit in nicely. As to racing and track days, check out http://www.cmraracing.com/

Texas World Speedway in Bryan, and MotorSport Ranch in Cresson are popular from Austin. Of course, we're in hopes track days will be offered right here on the new Circuit of Americas course.

There's also Harris Hill in San Marcos for some twisty fun. http://harrishillroad.com/

I look forward to meeting you.

[GigAg04]

Welcome - Austin is awesome.

For sport bike/track/racing talk in Texas check out WFOriders, although this place is great too.

[BlackandBlue]

Originally Posted by whoa

It sounds like you've looked at our part of Texas carefully. I expect you two will fit in nicely. As to racing and track days, check out http://www.cmraracing.com/

Texas World Speedway in Bryan, and MotorSport Ranch in Cresson are popular from Austin. Of course, we're in hopes track days will be offered right here on the new Circuit of Americas course.

There's also Harris Hill in San Marcos for some twisty fun. http://harrishillroad.com/

I look forward to meeting you.

Holy crap! I didn't even know about that Circuit of Americas course they were building! That's freakin awesome! And if they do track days there, it will obviously be a thousand times better!

I did spot Harris Hill in San Marco in my searches and was wondering how it is. The closest track to me here is 3.5 hours away and the nearst quality track is 5+ hours, so ANYTHING close worth riding would be great. The nearest drag strip is 2 hours away, too, so I noticed there are a couple within an hour or so (SAR being one). Man, I'm looking forward to this move. I'll check the rest of those links when I get a chance. Thanks!

Originally Posted by GigAg04

Welcome - Austin is awesome.

For sport bike/track/racing talk in Texas check out WFOriders, although this place is great too.

Thanks, will do!

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by BlackandBlue

Thanks. Do you race or do track days at all? I see you're near/in Austin. I've never done any track riding; just street and dual sport wandering.

And where was that picture of your DRZ taken? That looks great. That was on the Colorado/New Mexico Border along the Continental Divide Trail. A great ride.

I have thought about getting on a track to learn some go faster techniques just never had the opportunity.

[M38A1]

from another Austinite....

Plenty of great riding here, and pretty much year round as well. I think you'll enjoy here.

Side question, are you a camera guy? Your bike pic isn't just a typical here's my bike in a parking lot kind of shot...

.

I heard they might offer track day for us locals on the F1 course some day. If that is allowed, I will be buying a used track bike...probably an R6.

[GigAg04]

Originally Posted by Red Brown

I heard they might offer track day for us locals on the F1 course some day. If that is allowed, I will be buying a used track bike...probably an R6.

Me too

[msnyder755]

Welcome from San Marcos guy! Great roads within minutes. There are 5 tracks varying from 45 minutes from you to about 4 hours. I will post when near a computer varying details for you.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Gravel Guy]

Howdy B&B....welcome to a great place to ride and a great online community!

[BlackandBlue]

Originally Posted by The Bruce

I have thought about getting on a track to learn some go faster techniques just never had the opportunity.

That trail looks awesome. Being a fan of anything with a motor (cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, jetskis, etc), I really think Austin is going to have a lot to offer. My wife is also a big fan of jetskis and water, so Lake Travis caught her attention right away.

Originally Posted by M38A1

from another Austinite....

Plenty of great riding here, and pretty much year round as well. I think you'll enjoy here.

Side question, are you a camera guy? Your bike pic isn't just a typical here's my bike in a parking lot kind of shot...

.

Thanks for the welcome. And I'm not a camera guy (I would be if I had the money, but all my extra money goes into track time, music equipment, and traveling). That pic was was taken by a fellow CT rider at a dyno day we all attended last year.

Originally Posted by Red Brown

I heard they might offer track day for us locals on the F1 course some day. If that is allowed, I will be buying a used track bike...probably an R6.

If that's true, I'll probably never leave Austin. It's my dream to have a track that runs track days close enough that I can ride there in the morning, race all day, then ride home (and not be too far from home in the event of an off). The closest I get to that now is riding 2 hours to the nearest drag strip early in the morning, racing all day, then riding two hours home. And it's either freezing on the ride out and back or really hot and humid while at the track depending on the time of year. The road courses are just too far to be riding 3 1/2 hours there at like 4am, riding 15 or 20 minutes sessions all day long, then riding 3 1/2 hours back.

Originally Posted by msnyder755

Welcome from San Marcos guy! Great roads within minutes. There are 5 tracks varying from 45 minutes from you to about 4 hours. I will post when near a computer varying details for you.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

I can't wait to get that info. I've had a tough time getting details from actual riders on all the tracks in the area.

Originally Posted by Gravel Guy

Howdy B&B....welcome to a great place to ride and a great online community!

Thanks!

[tshelfer]

Welcome to Texas.

[dukey33]

Welcome in.

I have kinfolk in New Haven, CT. Spent many weekends and summers up there visiting my grandparents. They had a building very near Yale. It was a bit sad to see the area decline over the years, but that's not uncommon with any urban area.

Austin is a good choice for a transplant to transition to Texas. You'll definitely get Texas culture but perhaps won't be as shocked.

[BlackandBlue]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

Welcome to Texas.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by dukey33

Welcome in.

I have kinfolk in New Haven, CT. Spent many weekends and summers up there visiting my grandparents. They had a building very near Yale. It was a bit sad to see the area decline over the years, but that's not uncommon with any urban area.

Austin is a good choice for a transplant to transition to Texas. You'll definitely get Texas culture but perhaps won't be as shocked.

Downtown New Haven around the green and Yale is as nice of a city area as you get here in CT. I'm 15-20 minutes away and play gigs there on occasion. It's as much of an arts/music/culture vibe as you'll get in CT, as well, but nothing too special compared to the bigger cities. That's one of the reasons I'm leaving. CT is a very suburban and business/industry minded state and when you stack on the fact that there are no close tracks to ride or race - getting out of here becomes a no-brainer. The insanely high cost of living didn't make the decision any harder, either.

[ghostrider1964]

Originally Posted by BlackandBlue

Thanks!


Downtown New Haven around the green and Yale is as nice of a city area as you get here in CT. I'm 15-20 minutes away and play gigs there on occasion. It's as much of an arts/music/culture vibe as you'll get in CT, as well, but nothing too special compared to the bigger cities. That's one of the reasons I'm leaving. CT is a very suburban and business/industry minded state and when you stack on the fact that there are no close tracks to ride or race - getting out of here becomes a no-brainer. The insanely high cost of living didn't make the decision any harder, either.

I have family in NH. The cost of living in the NE is outrageous. I heard CT was THE most expensive. My x inlaws live in Boston. The price of everything there was a culture shock in itself

[BlackandBlue]

Originally Posted by ghostrider1964

I have family in NH. The cost of living in the NE is outrageous. I heard CT was THE most expensive. My x inlaws live in Boston. The price of everything there was a culture shock in itself

I lived in Boston for four years. The prices are insane for everything. If that wasn't the case, I probably would have stayed there longer and not come back to CT at all, but right after college I needed a job and cheap place to live, so I moved back in with my parents for a bit and got hooked up with a job through a friend (unrelated to my education, unfortunately). That was a number of years ago, though. As of right now, I have no real excuse for not leaving CT sooner. Fear of financial risk was really the biggest factor.

[ldst]

Welcome, I have some kin from that area that I have never meet, Hence my last name is Storrs, my ancestors moved to texas in the 1800s. You will like it here and look forword to meetin ya"ll sometime. My wife rides also , 2011 ninja 1000

[fotoTEX]

Welcome to Texas. Many have moved here, not many ever leave. GOD BLESS TEXAS....

It truly is like a whole other Country. Be prepared for a huge amount of Texas Pride. Us Texan's absolutely love this awesome place. You will see why.